Andoni Iraola sends statement, puts Liverpool in difficult position

Andoni Iraola sends statement, puts Liverpool in difficult position Andoni Iraola has sent a message to Liverpool across his first few games in charge. It's puts the Reds in a difficult position. We've now seen what Andoni Iraola is about over his first four matches in charge of Liverpool. The Spaniard has tried to develop the team quickly, hoping to get them pressing higher and playing with more energy than last season. That was very apparent in the wins over Ipswich Town and Atlético Madrid. The latter was a particularly impressive win in the UEFA Champions League and it was the Reds' high press that made it happen. What Iraola needs, then, is to get a hold of the right players for the right roles. That includes figuring who in this current bunch are capable of delivering what he needs. And one decision he appears to have made on that puts Liverpool in a very tricky position. Andoni Iraola and Alexis Mac Allister Iraola has seemingly made up his mind in midfield. Liverpool have three elite options for two positions, with Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister battling it out. But it seems the head coach has an early prefernce. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister have been preferred and that was heavily rewarded on Wednesday evening as both scored in the 2-1 win. Here's the problem, though: Liverpool have built with Gravenberch and Szoboszlai in mind. They're the pair of midfielders who got massive new contracts this year, with Mac Allister left to publicly call the club out. He does want a new deal but Liverpool don't want to give him one . That goes against what Iraola plainly thinks, though, and now Mac Allister is making it even more difficult with his recent performances. Liverpool have to figure this one out. You can't decide that Mac Allister is a sacrificial lamb for new signings if he's a first-choice player for Iraola, the coach you're hoping can get the club back competing at the top.